A Symmetrical Performance

On December 7, 1977 at The Kitchen, Ned Sublette dressed as a monk, stood behind an altar (complete with burning candles and skulls), and recited a series of texts as the cello and violin (played by Martha Siegel and Elizabeth Sublette, respectively) softly droned. After thirty-five minutes of this, a tape-recording of the performance was re-played backwards to the audience. Though originally titled, "Voice, Low Strings, Chromelodeon, Tape, Hair, Clothes, Bone," Sublette's night at The Kitchen quickly became known as his "A Symmetrical Performance." Sublette's "A Symmetrical Performance" marks the first of many performances at The Kitchen.